The Royal Military Academy's Impostor Owns a Dungeon [BL]-Chapter 945: The Price of Sincerity

To say that Luca was pleasantly surprised would’ve been an understatement.

His polishing task was momentarily forgotten as he stared at Doyle with wide, shining eyes.

"F-fifty million Star Coins?" Luca repeated faintly.

Wow.

Not only had the "shiny uncle" given them helpful advice, but now he was handing over 50 million Star Coins as a donation?

Luca’s face bloomed like a sunflower in the morning light.

However, as if remembering his manners, he realized he should probably reject such a massive sum.

So, just as quickly as the flower had bloomed, it wilted.

"Mister, that’s too much," Luca said, even though it physically hurt him to form the words. "We can’t possibly accept something like that..."

He truly meant it.

Even if his heart was crying for Star Coins.

But much to the little money-grubber’s surprise, Doyle straightened with trembling determination.

"It’s my apology and sincerity!" he insisted. "Please accept it!"

The golden-eyed cadet hesitated.

But Mister was really tenacious and practically begged Luca to take it, claiming it was the only way to prove his sincerity.

Finally, Luca gave in with a soft sigh.

"Well... if you put it that way," Luca said slowly, lashes fluttering. "How could I reject someone’s sincerity like that? Especially from a benefactor?"

Benefactor.

Doyle almost sobbed.

He didn’t want to be a benefactor. He just wanted to stay alive.

Still, as soon as the transfer confirmation chimed, he felt like he’d just paid ransom for his own life.

Doyle felt a momentary surge of relief. He just wanted to bolt away and hide from the world for the foreseeable future. But as he turned to make his escape after giving away his personal fortune, something small and fast flew straight into his open mouth.

"!!!"

It happened so fast he didn’t even have time to blink, let alone react.

Was he dying? Was this a delayed execution?

Poison?!

Doyle clutched at his throat, eyes wide with panic as he tried to cough it back up—

However, he stopped when he saw Luca’s shy, beaming smile. "Mister! It’s a small gift from us in exchange for your sincerity!"

A gift?

Gift?!

Doyle froze. Sure enough, he was going to die.

"By tomorrow, hopefully, your hair will start growing," Luca explained earnestly. "See, my Papa once said that because light easily heats heads without the protection of hair, there’s a tendency to overheat and get really hot-headed. So with this, hopefully you’ll be able to keep your cool better!"

"..."

"..."

"What?" Doyle choked out, his voice cracking from shock and horror.

He looked at the freshman, then at the crowd of master mechanics—half of whom were just as bald as he was.

However, much to his surprise, Luca didn’t cower.

Instead, he just blinked those long lashes as the entire hall fell into a stunned silence. The arguing masters stopped mid-sentence, everyone looking at each other’s shiny crowns with newfound intensity.

Honestly, it was the kind of silence that could’ve stayed unbroken.

But after who knows how long, finally, one extremely brave soul spoke up in a near whisper. "...Child, is it for sale?"

"!"

"!!"

The atmosphere shifted instantly. The hall erupted.

Doyle, the first test subject for Luca’s newest "toy," managed to escape thanks to the ensuing chaos as the crowd swarmed the boy, demanding information about the strange pill.

He stumbled out half-dazed, clutching his throat and his empty account balance.

He had lost face.

He had lost his fortune.

And considering today, he likely would lose the privileges to go back home.

But with everyone knowing about what happened to him, surely he wouldn’t just die tonight, right?

Right?

It was the oddest outcome for a senior who had come to mock and left financially crippled.

However, who would’ve known that, at the very least, from that night onward, his reputation would be forever changed.

He wouldn’t just be the arrogant senior anymore.

From this day forward, Star Net would remember him as the first documented case of near-instantaneous hair regrowth.

History would not remember his name—but it would remember him as the Empire’s most famous hairy ass.

__

Thankfully, a ways away from the hustle and bustle of DG’s expo booth was a certain child who didn’t need to witness the kind of hairy business that was currently unfolding in one particular location.

Princess Marin was barely containing her joy.

She stood by the tall window of her room on the ship, both hands pressed lightly against the cool glass as she gazed out at Planet Solara’s gleaming skyline. Hover lanes shimmered in the distance, and the capital’s towers rose proudly beneath the evening light, reflecting gold and silver like polished ornaments.

Her reflection stared back at her—bright eyes, flushed cheeks, and a grin she was trying very hard to suppress.

She quickly smoothed down her skirt, fingers fussing over imaginary wrinkles, then adjusted the ribbon at her waist just to have something to do with her hands.

She’d truly thought she might miss the Expo entirely.

It had taken so long to get to the capital.

For some reason, their journey had been plagued by several stops along the way. But as a young Princess who’d never really been allowed to travel far from home, she didn’t have much of an idea about the logistics of interstellar travel. She just figured that’s how things worked.

Maybe this was normal?

Maybe ships just needed lots and lots of breaks.

Either way, it didn’t matter anymore.

She was here.

Finally.

She was finally going to meet her big brother, see the sights, and eat all those wonderful things she’d heard about. If she were really lucky, she might even get the chance to meet her idol, Princess Muscle Muscle!

The little Elven Princess couldn’t help but curl her toes in excitement.

Just thinking about it made her want to squeal.

Marin spun around from the window, clutching her little bag to her chest, ready to rush out and begin her grand adventure.

But just as she turned her back to grab her things, something cold and firm pressed over her mouth.

"!!!"

It happened in the blink of an eye.

One moment, she was getting ready to head out the door; the next, she was fighting a losing battle against a heavy, unnatural need to sleep.

No.

No!

Help!

She tried to struggle, but her strength drained away far too quickly. The room tilted, her vision blurring at the edges.

Help—

But before the darkness fully claimed her, she caught the sound of a strangely familiar voice.

"!"

"Just sleep for now, Marin. When you wake up, we’ll play a lot."

...Huh?

Play?

The Elven Princess’s thoughts grew sluggish.

She couldn’t make sense of those words. Maybe she really was just tired.

Because how else could she explain what she was seeing?

Standing in front of her—

Was herself.

Same face.

Same hair.

Same dress.

They even had the same bag.